About

'I first met Derek Jarman at the Berlin Film Festival in 1985. In the cinema foyer, Jarman was surrounded by friends and admirers. I was with two fellow film students and we approached Jarman, and asked whether we could see him to talk about filmmaking. In June, we met Jarman at his small flat in Phoenix House, London. The place looked like an Alchemist's lair; crammed with canvases, books and objects from his films. We talked a little with Jarman and showed one of our film school projects (an adaptation of The Blind Man by D.H Lawrence). He was kind with his criticisms of our film and encouraged us to pick up a camera and make personal films, to work with friends rather than professional actors. I had a Super 8 camera with me and I asked Jarman if it was ok for us to film him. He brought out a musical saw into the sunniest part of the room and we took turns to film. The saw made an incredible haunting sound that resonated through the flat. We filmed Jarman playing with objects in the sunlight: a skull with a tiara, a large gold leaf book, large dress scissors and a face caste (resembling a death mask). Jarman decided to go up on the rooftop to get some air. As he walked up the outside fire escape stairs, he saw a shadow of himself caste against the wall. We encouraged him to play with the shadow and he ran up and down the steps and reached out to the shadow. He became lost in his own world.' Ian Cottage, 2010